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A Conservative Party press release on Australia's same sex marriage vote brings out the mischief

The Australian House of Representatives and the Senate have both recently rejected a redefinition of marriage to include two people of the same sex by an overwhelming margin (98-42 against and 41-26 against), a sort of a reverse of what New Zealand's Parliament voted for with the first reading of Labour's Louisa Wall's bill on the Feast of John the Baptist (oh the irony there!).

Yesterday, the Conservative Party of NZ unleashed a press release on the difference between Australia and New Zealand with regards to liberal social change and it's connection with the economy of a country.

Mr Craig says “Once again Australia has made the smart decision by refusing to make unnecessary and detrimental changes to the definition of marriage. This is another example of Aussies showing us how to do it, and will further support the trend of New Zealanders leaving for Australia.”

“The New Zealand Parliament is simply too liberal to ensure the best interests of New Zealand. On the other hand the Australian Parliament are taking a more conservative approach, and reaping the benefits. Australia are not prepared to play fast and loose with their social legislation and economic management.”

“Economically Australia is getting it right. Careful budgeting has produced surpluses seven times in the last ten years. Their economy is growing, and wages are now an estimated 40% higher than in New Zealand. A far cry from when New Zealand wages were higher than those in Australia just a few decades ago.”

“Socially Australia is also getting it right. For example, they didn’t impose an outright ban on smacking children. Instead they brought in sensible restrictions that protected a parent’s right to discipline their children. That same common sense has been used when it comes to gay marriage, and they have wisely refused to entertain the proposal.”

“Australia’s success is not random chance; it is the result of better leadership decisions. Over the last 15 years New Zealand and Australia have had a very different approach, and to put it bluntly New Zealand’s leadership is being shown up. The majority of our MP’s are socially liberal, and have little or no knowledge of how to manage an economy for growth.”

“The New Zealand Parliament needs Conservative MP's who will oppose the social liberal agenda, and use their business and economic acumen to prioritise the economy.”

David Farrar of Kiwiblog read all that and translated what the press release said to his own mischievous rendition: Colin Craig says Kiwis will flee to Australia to escape gay married couples. Hmmmm....

If anyone would like to understand the connection between morality and the economy of a country, please read Has Europe lost it's soul, a speech by Lord Johnathon Sacks on the global financial crisis and it's spiritual roots, and The politics of porn, an article connecting the need for a virtuous populace for a free democracy (and therefore lively commerce) to thrive.

I know that there are people that will continue to deny any connection between morality and the free and prosperous way of live that we have now, and at times these people will seem obstinately obtuse and very noisy in their opposition, but the advantage that we who know about this connection have is that it is true, and truth, even when it's painful or unpalatable and demands personal sacrifice is still what will win in the end.

Comments

  1. “The New Zealand Parliament is simply too liberal to ensure the best interests of New Zealand. On the other hand the Australian Parliament are taking a more conservative approach, and reaping the benefits. Australia are not prepared to play fast and loose with their social legislation and economic management.”

    Craig, as usual, is all mouth and no trousers.

    The diffference between the votes is that in NZ all MPs were allowed a free vote; in Australia the Mad Monk Abbott refused to allow Lib-NP MPs a free vote, they were whipped to vote as instructed by Rome, not by their electorates.

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  2. Rome doesn't give orders in that way, LRO. We are not all fitted with a borg-like mind control device. But personally, I prefer that the party I vote for has a policy on social issues as well as economic ones, so I don't have to rely on the shrunken consciences of 120 MPs.

    Colin Craig is a politician who is trying to carve out a political place for himself in the NZ landscape. Good on him for highlighting these issues. We'll see how his trousers go in the next election - I may even vote for him this time!

    :-)

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  3. Dear Lucia - I find dad4justice's comment to be cruel and offensive. As Catholics we are called to treat people who have a homosexual attraction with the same dignity and respect as we would any child of God's.

    I'm very glad that Australia has not redefined God's institution of marriage, and I hope and pray that New Zealand will keep marriage as between a man and a woman for the purposes of procreation and unity. However the kind of disrespectful words that dad4justice writes do nothing to lead souls to God.

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  4. Muerk, I understand where you are coming from. Some comments of that nature I delete and others I leave, having to balance being kind to the commenter who has his own issues to deal with.

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  5. Farrar's take on the press release was simply idiotic.

    It was perfectly clear what he meant.

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